But it wasn’t enough to prise the first-year sensation out of the final year of his contract.

“Unfortunately we weren’t able to come to an agreement with the Cats, it wasn’t through lack of trying,” West Coast list manager Brady Rawlings said.

“We went really hard from day one... unfortunately the Cats rate us just as highly as we do and didn’t want to give him up.

“Our picks in this year’s draft were on the table and we were willing to go into our future picks as well.

“No doubt we’ll monitor his situation. If he feels the same way next year then we’ll be here then willing to talk.”

The reigning premiers at least addressed their need for another big man, securing St Kilda’s Tom Hickey relatively cheaply after losing Scott Lycett to Port Adelaide in the free agency period and Nic Naitanui to a long-term knee injury.

Hickey, pick No.60 and a future fourth-round pick went to the Eagles in exchange for pick No.39 and the Saints’ future fourth-round pick.

The Eagles will have picks 20, 22, 60, 71 and 75 at next month’s draft.

They acquired their top pick (20) as compensation for losing their premiership ruckman Lycett.